In a significant political development in Maharashtra, six Lok Sabha MPs from the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) formally joined the ruling Shiv Sena led by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Monday, further deepening the split within the party.
The six MPs who switched sides are Sanjay Deshmukh, Sanjay Jadhav, Sanjay Dina Patil, Nagesh Patil-Ashtikar, Omprakash Rajenimbalkar and Bhausaheb Wakchaure. The move comes days after the MPs skipped a key parliamentary party meeting convened by the UBT faction in New Delhi.
Welcoming the leaders at a function in Mumbai, Shinde declared that “Operation Tiger” had been successful and described the incoming MPs as strong grassroots leaders. He also referred to them as “six tigers,” highlighting their political importance and influence in their respective constituencies.
The development is being seen as a major blow to Uddhav Thackeray and his party, which had won nine Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra in the 2024 general elections. With six MPs now crossing over, the parliamentary strength of the UBT faction has been significantly reduced.
Shinde said the induction of the MPs would strengthen the Shiv Sena's position within the ruling Mahayuti alliance, which includes the BJP and the NCP. Political observers believe the move could have a major impact on Maharashtra's political landscape ahead of future elections.
The latest defections mark another chapter in the ongoing battle for control of the Shiv Sena, which split in 2022 when Shinde led a rebellion against Thackeray's leadership. Since then, both factions have been competing for political dominance in the state.
As Maharashtra politics heats up once again, the success of “Operation Tiger” is expected to further reshape alliances and electoral strategies in the state.
